EMS Race Team will arrive in Montreal, Quebec for the Ferrari Challenge on June 8-10 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve riding the momentum of a first-place finish at Spa in Belgium. The Ferrari Challenge drivers will compete in a support race for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, which will also be held in Montreal throughout weekend. Driver James Weiland and the Boardwalk Ferrari crew will be competing on the same track as F1 stars Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton and others. This marquee-racing event is expected to draw a capacity crowd of 100,000 fans throughout the weekend who are sure to make it a festive atmosphere for racing.

“Montreal will be another great test for our team this season,” Weiland said. “With the Formula 1 going off during the weekend, it will make for a tremendous environment. The competition among the Ferrari Challenge drivers will be stiff as usual too. But our goal will be the same as it always is—focus on the task at hand and put forth our very best effort as a team. If we accomplish those goals, it will be a successful trip for us.”

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve first hosted the Canadian Grand Prix in 1978. Past winners include Michael Schumacher, Jackie Stewart, Lewis Hamilton, as well as the iconic Aryton Senna. Hamilton is the betting favorite to capture this year’s victory, followed by Vettel and Valtteri Bottas. EMS Race Team competed at the legendary track in Montreal for the first time during the 2013 Ferrari Challenge. This year, Weiland and ERIN the ems+ Ferrari 488 Challenge will be looking to build on their season total of five podium finishes thus far.

“We always like to get up onto the podium during weekends like this especially because it helps raise awareness for PETA Cruelty Free, Cornerstone of Hope and Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation. With the large crowds in attendance, it’s a great way to help make an impression on fans and drivers for each of those missions. We were able to accomplish that goal during our last race in Belgium, and hopefully we can have a repeat performance in Canada.”

Those causes that EMS Race Team fly the banner for are very close to the team’s heart. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than three million members and supporters. Products proudly displaying the bunny logo are cruelty-free, meaning that they were produced without testing on animals. Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation’s mission is to provide educational support to at risk children through a combination of literacy, personal development and health and fitness programs designed to develop the whole child. Cornerstone of Hope, meanwhile, is dedicated to providing support, education, and hope for the grieving.

For behind the scenes coverage of the Ferrari Challenge in Montreal throughout the weekend, be sure to follow EMS Race Team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Formula One racing champion Lewis Hamilton once said, “Racing is what I love, so it’s pretty simple. I want to keep doing it and keep winning.” During the Belgium Ferrari Challenge, EMS Race Team kept doing what they love while earning a win at the world famous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. After receiving contact in Race 1 that ended their day early, EMS Race Team responded with a Race 2 victory after ERIN the ems+ Ferrari 488 Challenge and driver James Weiland earned pole position in the rain.

“We really won the race during the morning qualifying in the wet,” Weiland said. “Rain and fog came again in the afternoon while we were out on our formation laps on dry slick tires resulting in a safety car start and finish. Big thanks to Boardwalk Ferrari, Rossocorsa, Conrad Grunewald, Jim Malicki, Dave Cameron, Ray Banda and R3 Motorsports. ERIN’s speed in qualifying got us the win.”

ERIN started her weekend at Spa by qualifying third for Race 1—just over a tenth off pole. A not so great start to that race had EMS running 5th and trying hard to get their places back among a crowded track. On Lap 4, however, ERIN received contact and got pummeled in LaSource by the car behind her which broke the right rear suspension and ended her day prematurely. The Boardwalk Ferrari / Rossocorsa team worked diligently from there to get ERIN ready to run the following day. When ERIN returned to the track, Weiland capitalized by driving her to pole position in the rain. The team would ride that performance to the Race 2 victory.

“The team did a great job working through adversity and putting us in position for the Race 2 win,” Weiland said. “Our goal was to come to Belgium and do everything we could to raise awareness for PETA Cruelty Free, Cornerstone of Hope and Coach Sam’s Inner Circle and the victory certainly helped us do that. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into our next race in Montreal.”

The victory gave EMS Race Team their 5th podium finish of the season, one that’s made stops in Florida, Texas, Australia, New Zealand and now Belgium. Along the way, they continue to race to raise awareness for PETA Cruelty Free, Cornerstone of Hope and Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than three million members and supporters. Products proudly displaying the bunny logo are cruelty-free, meaning that they were produced without testing on animals. Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation’s mission is to provide educational support to at risk children through a combination of literacy, personal development and health and fitness programs designed to develop the whole child. Cornerstone of Hope, meanwhile, is dedicated to providing support, education, and hope for the grieving.

For more behind the scenes coverage of the Ferrari Challenge in Belgium visit EMS Race Team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Coming off their fourth podium finish of the 2018 season, EMS Race Team now travels to Belgium for the Ferrari Challenge at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on May 11-13. After competing in Florida, Texas, Australia, and most recently New Zealand, James Weiland and ERIN the ems+ Ferrari 488 Challenge will now race one of the most challenging and acclaimed circuits in the world at Spa. They enter riding the momentum of back-to-back second place finishes in the Trofeo Pirelli class during trips to Australia and New Zealand, respectively.

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the famous host of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, the Spa 24 Hours, World Endurance Championships, and many other high-profile racing events. The historic track held its first ever race in 1922 and was used for Grand Prix racing for the first time in 1925. Early on, it quickly developed a reputation for being the fastest track in Europe but also one of the most dangerous. Several renovations to the circuit dramatically improved its safety throughout its nearly 100 years of racing, while also maintaining its speed and features like the Eau Rogue valley and the Blanchimont high-speed turn that help embody its character.

“Our team is definitely looking forward to racing at Spa,” Weiland said. “It is one of the most exciting tracks in the world for a reason. It will be a challenging drive for us to be sure, but also a lot of fun. We’re just trying to make sure we’re as prepared as possible as a team for race weekend and remain focused on doing the best we can collectively once we get there. The Ferrari Challenge competition in Europe is always stiff so we know we’ll have to be at the top of our game in order to experience the same success we’ve had over the last couple race weekends.”

While racing for the first time in Belgium, EMS will be competing to raise awareness for PETA Cruelty Free, Cornerstone of Hope and Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than three million members and supporters. Products proudly displaying the bunny logo are cruelty-free, meaning that they were produced without testing on animals. Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation’s mission is to provide educational support to at risk children through a combination of literacy, personal development and health and fitness programs designed to develop the whole child. Cornerstone of Hope, meanwhile, is dedicated to providing support, education, and hope for the grieving.

“We are looking forward to spreading the word about the great work that PETA Cruetly Free, Cornerstone of Hope, and Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation are doing for our community while we’re racing in Belgium,” Weiland added. “It’s amazing the impact each foundation is having on our communities, and we’re hoping to make them proud of our effort out on the track. We’re also hoping to make racing fans and drivers in Belgium who might not have heard about their work before aware of each foundation and inspire them to get involved.”

For behind-the-scenes coverage throughout race weekend in Belgium visit EMS Race Team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.